Condiment dispensing device

Abstract

An improved condiment dispensing system for delivering a measured quantity of condiment at a desired flow rate. The system comprises a pump which is fluidly connected to a condiment source and a dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus includes a valve assembly which is connected to a pressurized fluid source and to the pump whereby actuation of the valve assembly causes a measured quantity of the condiment to be dispensed from an outlet nozzle contained thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid driven pump for use in a condiment dispensing system, comprising: a housing defining at least one interior cavity;   a piston positioned within said housing and reciprocally movable through intake and exhaust strokes within said interior cavity for selectively drawing a predetermined quantity of condiment thereinto and dispensing the predetermined quantity therefrom;   a product inlet disposed within the housing for placing said interior cavity in fluid communication with a condiment reservoir during the intake stroke of the piston;   a product outlet disposed within said housing for placing said interior cavity in fluid communication with a condiment dispensing apparatus during the exhaust stroke of the piston;   an inlet check valve positioned within the housing between said product inlet and said interior cavity; and   an outlet check valve positioned within said housing between said product outlet and said interior cavity, said outlet check value comprising: an annular sleeve defining a flow path between the product outlet and the interior cavity and reciprocally movable between first and second positions, said sleeve being pushed to the first position during the exhaust stroke of the piston and pulled to the second position during the intake stroke of the piston; and   an umbrella member cooperatively engaged to the sleeve and reciprocally movable between a closed position wherein the flow path is blocked thereby and an open position wherein the flow path is unblocked, said umbrella member being pushed to the open position during the exhaust stroke of the piston and pulled to the closed position during the intake stroke of the piston;   the movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position during the intake stroke of the piston being adapted to pull a vacuum within said product outlet to eliminate drippage of residual condiment from said condiment dispensing apparatus.     
     
     
       2. The fluid driven pump of claim 1 wherein the movement of the umbrella member to the open position occurs simultaneously with the movement of the sleeve to the first position, and the movement of the umbrella movement to the closed position occurs simultaneously with the movement of the sleeve to the second position.